...
and I don't mean "he's 'pining' for it!" Whether you like it or not, if you're a cat owner you may find a time when your "little boy, 'Snookums,'" or "sweet little girl, 'Kitty Coo,'" is doing his or her business everywhere--but in the box! While the "solid waste" on a carpet or freshly cleaned floor can be a considerable ruin to an otherwise good day, it's the "bladder deposits" that have been known to wreak havoc on a regular daily routine.
Often, the first inclination is to yell and holler, you know the words, to "cut it out.
" Or you might take off at a run to chase down kitty.
Unfortunately, sometimes, you'll even give an unsuspecting smack.
Alas, making the situation worse on so many levels.
Actually, before you get much more upset about this, here are some things to consider (in no particular order) that might be causing this behavior: Note: The following tips are suggestions that may or may not resolve your kitty's issue.
They are not intended to take the place of regular trips to and contact with a vet.
1.
How old is your kitty? If your kitty is really young, perhaps he was taken from his mother at too young an age.
Sometimes people get so excited once they know they are going to get a kitty they want to take him home right away.
In some instances, this means they leave momma before or right at eight weeks old.
Momma may not yet be done with her "potty training" for kitty.
2.
Is the behavior new? If the behavior is new, what has changed in your household that may have upset kitty enough to start doing his business outside of the box? 3.
Or has your kitty been doing this for some time? If he's been doing it for some time, then you may need to make some changes in your routine and his to break him of the new habit.
Or, as noted in #10 below, he may be experiencing physical issues that will be better resolved by a trip to the vet.
4.
Do you have a male cat or a female cat? Male cats are prone to get Urinary Tract Infection, and sometimes it can be triggered by a dirty litter box.
At least a dirty box doesn't help! Persian cats are also subject to Urinary Infection.
Fortunately for us, to date, none of our four Persian male cats, all to be 13 years old this year, has had Urinary Tract Infection.
5.
How often do you clean the box? If your cat is always an "inside cat," you must clean his box at least once a day.
A lot of people now use a type of litter that "clumps" so you can scoop out the clumps when kitty has finished his business.
If you're using a scented cat litter, your cat may not like the scent and take his "business" elsewhere! If you have more than one cat, it's a good idea to have at least one other litter box; we have four boxes, two upstairs and two downstairs.
Actually, we could even use another.
6.
Where is the box located? Cats like to have privacy (well, ours do); so perhaps you could put your litter box in an out-of-the-way spot where there is not a lot of "foot traffic;" where people aren't always walking by it.
If your cat's box is in an open space that may be upsetting him enough to make him want to not get in the box at those times when he needs to.
7.
Have you changed the location of the box? For instance, was your cat box initially in the boot room by the back door but then you decided to put the box in the basement by the washer? If so, did you show your cat where you moved the box? If not, he may be a bit confused as to where you now want him to go.
Is he using a litter box that's in a room that's closed off so he hasn't been able to get into the room to use the "facilities?" 8.
Have other cats been around the box? If other cats have also used the box...
or if they've "smelled" around the litter box, perhaps they've left a scent that your kitty does not like.
9.
How is kitty otherwise treated at your house? Is kitty loved and does he know it? If a kitty has been yelled at for "being naughty" or if you've thrown something at him or sprayed him with water or done something else that's not usual lovin' on a cat, he may be reacting to that and "getting kitty revenge!" 10.
Have you taken kitty to the vet? If you have tried some or all of these suggestions over time, as well as some of your own, and kitty is still "aiming all wrong," a trip to the vet would be an excellent way to try to resolve the problem.
Perhaps kitty does have Urinary Tract Infection or some other ailment that a vet can help you understand and help to resolve the issue.
Medication may also be in order.
Finding a solution to changes in kitty's behavior is often not easy.
But, with a lot of patience, a trip to the vet, if necessary, and a bit of trial-and-error, it can be done.
And Kitty will be very glad! Our cats are "sensitive" at times, and we can tell when they "feel bad" because they did something we didn't want them to do.
At times like some of these, it takes a little extra lovin' so your kitty is assured he's still okay as far as you are concerned.
and I don't mean "he's 'pining' for it!" Whether you like it or not, if you're a cat owner you may find a time when your "little boy, 'Snookums,'" or "sweet little girl, 'Kitty Coo,'" is doing his or her business everywhere--but in the box! While the "solid waste" on a carpet or freshly cleaned floor can be a considerable ruin to an otherwise good day, it's the "bladder deposits" that have been known to wreak havoc on a regular daily routine.
Often, the first inclination is to yell and holler, you know the words, to "cut it out.
" Or you might take off at a run to chase down kitty.
Unfortunately, sometimes, you'll even give an unsuspecting smack.
Alas, making the situation worse on so many levels.
Actually, before you get much more upset about this, here are some things to consider (in no particular order) that might be causing this behavior: Note: The following tips are suggestions that may or may not resolve your kitty's issue.
They are not intended to take the place of regular trips to and contact with a vet.
1.
How old is your kitty? If your kitty is really young, perhaps he was taken from his mother at too young an age.
Sometimes people get so excited once they know they are going to get a kitty they want to take him home right away.
In some instances, this means they leave momma before or right at eight weeks old.
Momma may not yet be done with her "potty training" for kitty.
2.
Is the behavior new? If the behavior is new, what has changed in your household that may have upset kitty enough to start doing his business outside of the box? 3.
Or has your kitty been doing this for some time? If he's been doing it for some time, then you may need to make some changes in your routine and his to break him of the new habit.
Or, as noted in #10 below, he may be experiencing physical issues that will be better resolved by a trip to the vet.
4.
Do you have a male cat or a female cat? Male cats are prone to get Urinary Tract Infection, and sometimes it can be triggered by a dirty litter box.
At least a dirty box doesn't help! Persian cats are also subject to Urinary Infection.
Fortunately for us, to date, none of our four Persian male cats, all to be 13 years old this year, has had Urinary Tract Infection.
5.
How often do you clean the box? If your cat is always an "inside cat," you must clean his box at least once a day.
A lot of people now use a type of litter that "clumps" so you can scoop out the clumps when kitty has finished his business.
If you're using a scented cat litter, your cat may not like the scent and take his "business" elsewhere! If you have more than one cat, it's a good idea to have at least one other litter box; we have four boxes, two upstairs and two downstairs.
Actually, we could even use another.
6.
Where is the box located? Cats like to have privacy (well, ours do); so perhaps you could put your litter box in an out-of-the-way spot where there is not a lot of "foot traffic;" where people aren't always walking by it.
If your cat's box is in an open space that may be upsetting him enough to make him want to not get in the box at those times when he needs to.
7.
Have you changed the location of the box? For instance, was your cat box initially in the boot room by the back door but then you decided to put the box in the basement by the washer? If so, did you show your cat where you moved the box? If not, he may be a bit confused as to where you now want him to go.
Is he using a litter box that's in a room that's closed off so he hasn't been able to get into the room to use the "facilities?" 8.
Have other cats been around the box? If other cats have also used the box...
or if they've "smelled" around the litter box, perhaps they've left a scent that your kitty does not like.
9.
How is kitty otherwise treated at your house? Is kitty loved and does he know it? If a kitty has been yelled at for "being naughty" or if you've thrown something at him or sprayed him with water or done something else that's not usual lovin' on a cat, he may be reacting to that and "getting kitty revenge!" 10.
Have you taken kitty to the vet? If you have tried some or all of these suggestions over time, as well as some of your own, and kitty is still "aiming all wrong," a trip to the vet would be an excellent way to try to resolve the problem.
Perhaps kitty does have Urinary Tract Infection or some other ailment that a vet can help you understand and help to resolve the issue.
Medication may also be in order.
Finding a solution to changes in kitty's behavior is often not easy.
But, with a lot of patience, a trip to the vet, if necessary, and a bit of trial-and-error, it can be done.
And Kitty will be very glad! Our cats are "sensitive" at times, and we can tell when they "feel bad" because they did something we didn't want them to do.
At times like some of these, it takes a little extra lovin' so your kitty is assured he's still okay as far as you are concerned.